02135 and 02128 receive effectively the same standardized Area Score. Which fits you better depends on which dimensions you weight — the differences below are where they actually diverge.
Signals
02135
02128
Opportunity
65 · Top 29%
vs62 · Top 35%
Growth
52 · Top 48%
vs52 · Top 48%
Climate
65 · Bottom 37%
vs65 · Bottom 37%
Physical resilience
97 · Top 2%
vs97 · Top 2%
Housing affordability
37 · Bottom 4%
vs42 · Bottom 7%
Schools
39 · Bottom 33%
vs32 · Bottom 26%
Access
99 · Top 15%
vs99 · Top 15%
Economic stability
60 · Top 50%
vs61 · Top 47%
Measured values
| Metric | 02135 | 02128 | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 43,149 | 43,345 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $90,829 | $90,106 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $55,184 | $49,626 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 16,596/sq mi | 8,626/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $681,200 | $668,000 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $2,249 | $2,064 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 23.3% | 29.0% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 4.2% | 4.2% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -1.5% | -1.5% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 72.0% | 38.0% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 18.4% | 15.7% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 2,086 | 2,086 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 3.1 | 3.1 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 21.2% | 21.2% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 82°F | 82°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 23°F | 23°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 43.6" | 43.6" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 8 mi | 0 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 35.4 min | 34.9 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 30.4 | 34.5 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 7 | 12 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 9.52 | 10.57 | 2024-25 school year |
| Math proficiency | 19.6% | 13.7% | 2019-20 school year |
| Reading proficiency | 23.7% | 28.5% | 2019-20 school year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
02135
Elevated or high exposure: hurricane.
02128
Elevated or high exposure: hurricane.
Full profiles: 02135 — Boston, MA · 02128 — Boston, MA · How this is calculated: methodology